System and method for applying tracing tools for network locations

ABSTRACT

A method is disclosed for enabling a network location to provide an ordering process for data relevant to connected network devices&#39; activities. The method includes assembling the data, utilizing the activity data, and associating the data, such that information is derived to enable a desired expansion of at least one designated activity. Another method is disclosed for managing an object assignment broadcast operations for a network location based on a network device&#39;s previous activities. This second method includes tracing a network device&#39;s conduct to determine that a network device prefers a particular class of content. The method also includes tagging a network device&#39;s profile with the respective observation and deciding by a network location as to the classification factor for a network device to be targeted for an object assignment broadcast.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/860,378 filed Jan. 2, 2018 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/595,590 filed May 15, 2017, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/608,117 filed Oct. 29, 2009, which claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/109,192 filed Oct. 29, 2008, the disclosure of each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to network location tracing, and more particularly to a system and method for applying an analytical processing to network locations.

BACKGROUND

There are several methods of gathering analytics on client devices (e.g. users) connected to network locations (e.g. websites). One method uses the traffic history contained in the server's log files. Server log files were not intended for monitoring network location traffic, although they can be used for this purpose. However, the process of extracting the data from a busy server, collating it and presenting is pretty slow and messy. Other systems make use of bits of HTML code added to the network locations. These bits of code extract data from a client device connected to a network location and send it to a database on either the host's server of the network location or a proprietary server. It would be advantageous to provide means to go beyond traditional tracing (e.g. metrics), such as the page view, and instead provide structured measures of interaction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to extend traditional network location based tracing such as page views and instead provide measurements of interaction.

It is one more principal object of the present invention to provide to network devices that connect to a network location an individualized user interface. A network location may present a first network device with a first type of content while presenting a second network device with a second type of content. As the present invention traces the network device, the system determines the preference of each network device connected to the network location and provides a unique user interface of the network location to each network device.

It is a further principal object of the present invention to enable network locations to measure network device activities and interactions with more accuracy and depth.

It is another principal object of the present invention to provide a way to measure, interpret and grow content, community, and the output from a given input.

It is one other principal object of the present invention to enable network locations to determine how network device's interact with the aspects of the network location.

It is yet a further principal object of the present invention to provide network locations with real-time warnings on network device performance, trends, and abnormalities which are accompanied by actionable solutions.

A method is disclosed for enabling a network location to provide an ordering process for data relevant to connected network devices' activities. The method includes assembling the data, utilizing (e.g. monetizing) the activity data, and associating the data, such that information is derived to enable a desired expansion of at least one designated activity. Utilizing the activity data also involves having a network location designate a unit of measure, such as unit of time (the duration of which the network device executes a particular activity). Another method is disclosed for managing an object assignment broadcast (e.g. ad) operation for a network location based a network device's previous activities. This second method includes tracing a network device's conduct to determine that a network device prefers a particular class of content. The method also includes tagging a network device's profile with the respective observation and deciding by a network location as to the classification factor for a network device to be targeted for an object assignment broadcast. Finally, the most relevant object assignment broadcasts are displayed at each network device according to the network device's profile and continuing network location activity.

The present invention provides a warning system that traces the conduct of network devices connected to a network location, detects trends and abnormalities and identifies deviations in network device activity. The application provides actionable reports, thus enables network locations to improve network device conversion and output from a given input, expand network device immersion, and expand network device connection time to the network location, etc.

Network locations receive real-time information connected devices regarding: the network location's current operating status; the network devices' top contributing content generators; the network devices that are the top contributing network devices; identifying target network devices; identifying the top contributing content; the network devices that may disconnect from the network location (e.g. network device loss); and/or exact output from a given input generated by each operation and device attributor.

Some of the unique features of the present invention are: measures the network device immersion and input parameters; detect the exact input of every element of network location content; traces network device data; obtain real-time warnings on deviations in network device conduct.

The present invention provides a full two-way Application Programmer Interface (API). An API is a set of public methods accessible to network locations. In non-Java situations, API refers to the visible part of the code in a software package. Network locations can enhance network device immersion using device based individualization and a suggestion engine. Network locations can also develop impetuses. Object assignment broadcast networks integrate with the API to serve different object assignment broadcasts to specific network devices based on information regarding that network device. Network locations are dynamically programmed using the API, down to the network device level, based on information associated with specific content that target specific network devices. Network-based object assignment platforms dynamically create specific assignments and target specific objects to specific network devices based on network device conduct.

The present invention provides two basic tools:

I Tracing Tool

Traces network locations and provides information on connected network device activity.

Which objects should be targeted?

Which search identifiers should be targeted?

Each network device can get a unique display of the network location, given enough information.

Which network devices should be targeted?

If one knows the utilization one can determine value of each network device.

By running the ordering process, one can give recommendations for any dimension: network devices, objects, search identifiers, and/or location.

Network devices need not install or download anything.

II the Sage Engine: Proactive Tracing

The tool (tradename “Sage”) traces a network location's data to derive conclusions in the form of trends and/or spikes in activity or other “stories.” For example, network devices connected to a network location from a particular location may vary over a time interval by about 3-4%, but over a specific time interval the system detected an increase of 15%. In another example, there was a steady increase of 34% of network devices searching for recreational destinations.

In another example, on a network location with a “request for network device object selection” (e.g. bidding or simply “selection”) format, a particular object was found to generate a disproportionately large amount of selections and reviews. The system orients the object within the home page of the network location after which object assignments over a particular interval for the object increased by at least one order of magnitude.

The network location for the present invention may associate with other network locations or associate with a terminal device of network locations. The network location for the present invention traces data from a selection-based network location and, as a result, may make recommendations based on network device's conduct toward one object such as the iPhone to another object such as Nokia. The network location may transmit a message to a network device indicating that “many network devices that assigned an iPhone also assigned a Nokia phone.”

Such results are used to initiate and/or reformulate ads presented to network devices based on the network devices' previous activities, according the following exemplary procedure: tracing a network device's conduct results in observations that a network device prefers a class of objects; tagging the network devices profile with the respective property; deciding by the network location as to the classification factor to be targeted for an ad, for example, if the network location is assigning an object the Sage engine finds network devices that may require the object (see “Top Engaging Tags,” with reference to FIG. 2 below); and displaying the most relevant ads to each network device.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows hereinafter may be better understood. Additional details and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description, and in part will be appreciated from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is described in conjunction with the appended figures:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a network interaction system.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of another embodiment of a network interaction system.

FIGS. 3A-3C show block diagrams of other embodiments of a network interaction system that includes a connection management system.

FIG. 4 shows a representation of a protocol-stack mapping of connection components' operation.

FIG. 5 represents a multi-device communication exchange system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a connection management system.

FIG. 7 is a schematic system block diagram of an exemplary method of the present invention.

FIG. 8a is a screenshot of a preferred embodiment of a network location showing the “Manage Ordering Process” step in the Create New Process mode of the Ordering Process Wizard, constructed according to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 8b is a screen shot of a preferred embodiment of a network location showing the “Naming” step in the Create New Process mode of the Ordering Process Wizard, constructed according to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 8c is a screenshot of one embodiment of a network location showing the “Change values” step in the Ordering Process Wizard, constructed according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 8d is a screenshot of a preferred embodiment of a network location showing the “Ordering Dashboard” on the Ordering Center HomePage, constructed according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 9a is a screenshot of the Activity Correlation Map, constructed according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 9b is a screenshot illustrating the ordering of the “Top Engaging Tags,” constructed according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a screenshot illustrating the ordering of the “Top Contributing Referrers, by Page Hits,” constructed according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a screenshot illustrating “Configure Warnings,” constructed according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a screenshot illustrating the analyses of the SAGE engine reports, constructed according to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a screenshot illustrating a SAGE engine synopsis report, constructed according to the principles of the present invention.

In the appended figures, similar components and/or features can have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type can be distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The ensuing description provides examples of embodiment(s) only and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the examples of embodiment(s) will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing examples of embodiment. It is understood that various changes can be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope as set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a network interaction system 100 which implements and supports certain embodiments and features described herein. Certain embodiments relate to establishing a connection channel between a network device 105 (which can be operated by a user 110) and a terminal device 115 (which can be operated by an agent 120). In certain embodiments, the network interaction system 100 can include a client device 130 associated with a client 125.

In certain embodiments, a user 110 can access remote server 140 to interact with an interface. A client 125 can be an entity that provides, operates, or runs the network site, or agents employed by or assigned by such an entity to perform the tasks available to a client 125 as described herein. The agent 120 can be a person, such as a support agent tasked with providing support or data to the user 110 regarding the network site (e.g., data about objects available for assignment over a network). Out of a large number of agents, a subset of agents may be appropriate for providing support or data for a particular client 125. The agent 120 may be affiliated or not affiliated with the client 125. Each agent can be associated with one or more clients 125. In some non-limiting examples, a user 110 can access a network site using a user device (e.g., a smartphone, an electronic computing device, an electronic computing device, and other suitable computing devices), a client 125 can be a company that provides objects to be assigned to users that meet certain conditions (e.g., pays a specific price), and an agent 120 can be an agent that is associated with the company. In various embodiments, the user 110, client 125, and agent 120 can be other users or entities.

While FIG. 1 shows only a single network device 105, terminal device 115 and client device 130, an interaction system 100 can include multiple or many (e.g., tens, hundreds or thousands) of each of one or more of these types of devices. Similarly, while FIG. 1 shows only a single user 110, agent 120 and client 125, an interaction system 100 can include multiple or many of each of one or more of such entities. Thus, it may be necessary to determine which terminal device is to be selected to communicate with a particular network device. Further complicating matters, a remote server 140 may also be configured to receive and respond to select network-device communications.

A connection management system 150 can facilitate strategic routing of communications. A communication can include a message with content (e.g., defined based on input from an entity, such as typed or spoken input). The communication can also include additional data, such as data about a transmitting device (e.g., an IP address, user identifier, device type and/or operating system); a destination address; an identifier of a client; an identifier of an interface or interface element (e.g., a network site or network site element being visited when the communication was generated or otherwise associated with the communication); a time (e.g., time of day); and/or destination address. Other data can be included in the communication. In some instances, connection management system 150 routes the entire communication to another device. In some instances, connection management system 150 modifies the communication or generates a new communication (e.g., based on the initial communication). The new or modified communication can include the message (or processed version thereof), at least some (or all) of the additional data (e.g., about the transmitting device, network interface and/or time) and/or other data identified by connection management system 150 (e.g., user data associated with a particular user identifier or device). The new or modified communication can include other data as well.

Part of strategic-routing facilitation can include establishing, updating and using one or more connection channels between network device 105 and one or more terminal devices 115. For example, upon receiving a communication from network device 105, connection management system 150 can first estimate to which client (if any) the communication corresponds. Upon identifying a client, connection management system 150 can identify a terminal device 115 associated with the client for communication with network device 105. In some instances, the identification can include evaluating a protocol (e.g., profile) of each of a plurality of agents, each agent (e.g., agent 120) in the plurality of agents being associated with a terminal device (e.g., terminal device 115). The evaluation can relate to a content in a network-device message. The identification of the terminal device 115 can include a technique described, for example, in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/725,799, filed on Mar. 17, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

In some instances, connection management system 150 can determine whether any connection channels are established between network device 105 and a terminal device associated with the client (or remote server 140) and, if so, whether such channel is to be used to transmit and receive a series of communications including the communication or message. This determination may depend, at least in part, on a topic associated with the communication, a polarity parameter (e.g., a sentiment score or value) associated with the communication or a past related communication, an estimated response latency for terminal device 115 and/or a type of communication channel associated with the communication (e.g., instant message, message, email, phone). Selecting an established communication channel may reduce the need to relay data from network device 105 multiple times. Meanwhile, determining that a new communication channel is to be established can facilitate quicker responses from more specialized agents.

A decision as to whether to select (or continue to use) an established communication channel and/or a selection of a new terminal device can include determining an extent to which each of one or more terminal devices (e.g., associated with a client) corresponds to a communication and/or an associated the user. Such correspondence can relate to, for example, an extent to which an agent's resource set (e.g., knowledge base) corresponds to a communication topic, an availability of an agent at a particular time and/or over a channel type, a language similarity between a user and agent.

Connection management system 150 may use communication analyses to influence routing determinations (e.g., determining whether to route a communication to a terminal device having previously received a communication from a network device having transmitted the communication or selecting a terminal device to receive or transmit a communication). One communication analysis can include determining one or more types or tags of a current or past communication or communication series. For example, a communication can be assigned a type for each of (for example) a topic, channel type (e.g., email, SMS message, real-time chat, phone call or asynchronous message), complexity level, message polarity, and/or whether/which file type is attached, and a terminal-device selection can be biased towards terminal devices associated with similar or related types.

Upon selecting a terminal device 115 to communicate with network device 105, connection management system 150 can establish a connection channel between the network device 105 and terminal device 115. In some instances, connection management system 150 can transmit a message to the selected terminal device 115. The message may request that the terminal device approve a proposed assignment to communicate with a network device 105 or identify that such an assignment has been generated. The message can include data about network device 105 (e.g., IP address, device type, and/or operating system), data about an associated user 110 (e.g., language spoken, duration of having interacted with client, skill level, and/or topic preferences), a received communication, code (e.g., a clickable hyperlink) for generating and transmitting a communication to the network device 105, and/or an instruction to generate and transmit a communication to network device 105.

In one instance, communications between network device 105 and terminal device 115 can be routed through connection management system 150. Such a configuration can allow connection management system 150 to monitor the transmitting and/or receiving of communications or messages and to detect issues (e.g., as defined based on rules) such as non-responsiveness of either device or extended latency. Further, such a configuration can facilitate selective or complete storage of communications, which may later be used, for example, to determine a quality of a communications between network devices and terminal devices and/or to support learning to update or generate routing rules so as to determine particular post-communication targets. Such storage can also facilitate generation of a series of previous messages (e.g., a message history) between a network device and first terminal device, which may be transmitted (for example) to a second terminal device when it is determined that the second terminal device is to join an existing or participate in a new communication series with the network device.

In some embodiments, connection management system 150 can monitor the transmitting and receiving of communications in real-time and perform automated actions (e.g., rule-based actions) based on the live communications. For example, when connection management system 150 determines that a communication relates to a particular object, connection management system 150 can automatically transmit an additional message to terminal device 115 containing additional data about the object (e.g., quantity of objects available, other data about the similar objects, etc.).

In one instance, a designated terminal device 115 can communicate with network device 105 without relaying communications through connection management system 150. One or both devices 105, 115 may (or may not) report particular communication metrics or content to connection management system 150 to facilitate communication monitoring and/or data storage.

As mentioned, connection management system 150 may route select communications to a remote server 140. Remote server 140 can be configured to provide data in a predetermined manner. For example, remote server 140 may access defined one or more text passages, voice recording and/or files to transmit in response to a communication. Remote server 140 may select a particular text passage, recording or file based on, for example, an analysis of a received communication (e.g., a semantic or mapping analysis).

Routing and/or other determinations or processing performed at connection management system 150 can be performed based on rules and/or data at least partly defined by or provided by one or more client devices 130. For example, client device 130 may transmit a communication that identifies a prioritization of agents, terminal-device types, and/or topic similarity. As another example, client device 130 may identify one or more weights to apply to various variables that may impact routing determinations (e.g., estimated response time, device type and capabilities, and/or terminal-device load balancing). It will be appreciated that which terminal devices and/or agents are to be associated with a client may be dynamic. Communications from client device 130 and/or terminal devices 115 may provide data indicating that a particular terminal device and/or agent is to be added or removed as one associated with a client. For example, client device 130 can transmit a communication with IP address and an indication as to whether a terminal device with the address is to be added or removed from a list identifying client-associated terminal devices.

In one instance, connection management system 150 facilitates an initial connection and routing between network device 105 and a first terminal device 115. For example, a message received in a communication from network device 105 can be routed to the first terminal device. As another example, communication management system 150 can transmit a communication to the first terminal device that includes or is indicative of a request or instruction to transmit a communication (e.g., initiating a communication series) to network device 105.

Connection management system 150 can monitor and/or analyze a corresponding communication series between network device 105 and the first terminal device to determine a characteristic. For example, connection management system 150 can analyze message content in one or more communications (e.g., to determine whether and/or how many of particular words, symbols or character types, such as “frustrat*”, “very”, “thank”, or “irritat*”, “!” or capital letters, were used). As another example, connection management system 150 can determine one or more statistics relating to each of one or more messages and/or the series. Examples of statistics can include, for example, message length (e.g., in words or characters), latency between a receipt of a communication and transmission of a responsive communication, latency between subsequent message transmissions, or typing speed while typing a message. As yet another example, connection management system 150 can receive and process one or more inputs, detected initially at network device 105 or the first terminal device and then identified to connection management system 150. Such inputs can identify, for example, a reroute request, or a resolution stage.

Connection management system 150 can evaluate the characteristic (e.g., characterizing message content, including a statistic or characterizing an input) to determine whether to define subsequent routing rules in a particular manner. For example, a continuous-channel rule can include a condition relating to a characteristic that specifies when routing of network-device messages is to be inclined towards the first terminal device (which previously communicated with the network device). The rule can be configured such that satisfaction of the condition results in establishment of a continuous channel between the network device and the first terminal device. The continuous channel can allow subsequent messages from the network device to be automatically routed to the first terminal device and/or preferentially routed to the first terminal device. The continuous channel can be configured to persist through multiple communication series. For example, even if a first series of messages are communicated between the network device and first terminal device on a first day, the channel can inclination routing of another message from the network device transmitted on a second day to be routed to the same first terminal device. A magnitude of such inclination may depend on, for example, a time since a previous interaction between the network device and first terminal device (e.g., increasing the level of inclination when a past interaction was recent), a total duration of and/or number of communications in a previous conversation (e.g., series of messages communicated between the network device and first terminal device) and/or a number of previous messages communicated between the network device and first terminal device (and/or a cumulative interaction time or count of messages).

Upon establishing a continuous channel, connection management system 150 can further facilitate presenting a presentation (e.g., notification) at network device 105 so as to alert user 110 that a continuous channel has been established, to identify the first terminal device or associated user and/or to indicate that subsequent messages (e.g., transmitted in association with an identifier of the channel, associated with a particular client, etc.) are to be routed to or to have routing inclined towards the first terminal device.

Conversely, connection management system 150 may determine that the characteristic indicates that subsequent messages from network device 105 (e.g., relating to a client) are not to be routed to the same first terminal device and/or are to be rerouted. For example, it can be determined that the condition in the continuous-channel rule is not satisfied. Upon such a determination, connection management system 150 can identify a new terminal device to route communications (e.g., relating to a client) to from the network device.

In one instance, a continuous-channel rule is configured such that a continuous channel is to be established between a network device and a terminal device following an initial routing of a communication between the two devices. Thus, the continuous channel may serve to facilitate consistent message routing within a single conversation (e.g., series of communicated messages). In an alternative or same instance, a continuous-channel rule may (also or alternatively) be configured such that a continuous channel is established, maintained or used so as to execute consistent message routing across different message series (e.g., the series being separated in time). Depending on the embodiment, a continuous-channel rule may limit a number of continuous channels that can be provided with respect to a network device and/or client. For example, a rule may indicate that, for a network device and client, the network device can only be connected to one (or three or another specified number) terminal devices via continuous channel.

In some instances, connection management system 150 can determine that a re-routing process is to be initiated (e.g., based on satisfaction of a condition in a re-routing rule). The determination can be based on a characteristic (e.g., characterizing message content, including a statistic or characterizing an input). For example, a re-routing rule can be configured such that re-routing is to be initiated upon detecting a characteristic indicative of user frustration or dissatisfaction; detecting a characteristic indicative of a lack of progress towards a resolution of an issue; detecting impermissible terminal-device communication statistics (e.g., long response latencies); or detecting that messages are beginning to focus on a new topic.

A re-routing process can include identifying a different terminal device to participate in a communication session with network device 105. Such an identification can be based on, for example, a topic associated with the communication, a polarity parameter associated with the communication or a past related communication, an estimated response latency for terminal device 115, a type of communication channel associated with the communication (e.g., instant message, message, email, phone), a type of each of one or more other terminal devices, a capability of one or more other terminal devices, and the like. A selection of the different terminal device may be performed in a same, similar or different manner as compared to a selection of a first terminal device. For example, determining that a re-routing rule's condition has been satisfied may incline a subsequent terminal-device selection towards higher-ordering devices.

A re-routing process may include transmitting a notification identifying a proposed re-routing to one or more devices, such as network device 105, the first terminal device or the different terminal device. The notification may include an option to authorize and/or an option reject the proposed re-routing. The notification may include data about network device 105, the first terminal device and/or the different terminal device and/or an associated party.

To reduce an abrupt transition between terminal devices, connection management system 150 can coordinate an overlap time period. During this time period, each of the first terminal device and the different terminal device can receive one or more communications (or processed versions thereof) from network device 105. For example, a new communication from network device 105 can be duplicated and then routed to each of the first and different terminal device.

In some instances, connection management system 150 can generate a dynamic message chronicle that includes multiple messages from network device 105 and/or from the first terminal device. The chronicle can include, for example, all messages in a communication session, all messages routed within a defined time period (e.g., previous 3 minutes), or all messages associated with one or more defined tags or types. For example, messages relating to a particular topic, message polarity (e.g., corresponding to dissatisfaction), or content type (e.g., including a question) can be selected. Connection management system 150 can transmit the dynamic message chronicle to the different terminal device. New messages from network device 105 and/or the first terminal device can further be transmitted to the different terminal device, such that the dynamic message chronicle can be appended with such new messages. Message selection for a dynamic message chronicle and/or whether a dynamic message chronicle is to be provided may also depend on whether re-routing is to occur during a temporally clustered series of messages or between message series.

In some instances, connection management system 150 can determine whether and/or when to stop routing communications to the first terminal device. For example, such routing termination may be performed upon detecting a response communication from the different terminal device, after a defined time period has elapsed following transmission of the message chronicle, after detecting an input received at the first terminal device indicating an intent to terminate a communication session, after detecting an input received at the different terminal device indicating an intent to handle a communication session, after detecting an input received at network device 105 requesting the proposed re-routing to the different terminal device be executed, and so on.

Depending on a rule or a reason for initiating a re-routing transfer, the re-routing may include closing a connection channel between network device 105 and the first terminal device (e.g., if a re-routing process was initiated in response to a low user polarity) and/or establishing a new connection channel between network device 105 and the different terminal device.

Each communication (e.g., between devices, between a device and connection management system 150, between remote server 140 and connection management system 150 or between remote server 140 and a device) can occur over one or more networks 170. Any combination of open or closed networks can be included in the one or more networks 170. Examples of suitable networks include the Internet, a personal area network, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or a wireless local area network (WLAN). Other networks may be suitable as well. The one or more networks 170 can be incorporated entirely within or can include an intranet, an extranet, or a combination thereof. In some instances, a network in the one or more networks 170 includes a short-range communication channel, such as a Bluetooth or a Bluetooth Low Energy channel. In one embodiment, communications between two or more systems and/or devices can be achieved by a secure communications protocol, such as secure sockets layer (SSL) or transport layer security (TLS). In addition, data may be encrypted based on any convenient, known, or to be developed manner, such as, but not limited to, Data Encryption Standard (DES), Triple DES, Rivest-Shamir-Adleman encryption (RSA), Blowfish encryption, Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), CAST-128, CAST-256, Decorrelated Fast Cipher (DFC), Tiny Encryption Algorithm (TEA), eXtended TEA (XTEA), Corrected Block TEA (XXTEA), and/or RCS, etc.

A network device 105, terminal device 115 and/or client device 130 can include, for example, a portable electronic device (e.g., a smart phone, tablet, laptop computer, or smart wearable device) or a non-portable electronic device (e.g., one or more desktop computers, smart appliances, servers, and/or processors). Connection management system 150 can be separately housed from network, terminal and client devices or may be part of one or more such devices (e.g., via installation of an application on a device). Remote server 140 may be separately housed from each device and connection management system 150 and/or may be part of another device or system. While each device, server and system in FIG. 1 is shown as a single device, it will be appreciated that multiple devices may instead be used. For example, a set of network devices can be used to transmit various communications from a single user, or remote server 140 may include a server stack.

A software agent or application may be installed on and/or executable on a depicted device, system or server. In one instance, the software agent or application is configured such that various depicted elements can act in related manners. For example, a software agent on a device can be configured to obtain and transmit data about device usage to a separate connection management system, and a software application on the separate connection management system can be configured to receive and process the data.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of another embodiment of a network interaction system 200. Generally, FIG. 2 illustrates a range of components configured and arranged to enable a network device 205 to communicate with one or more terminal devices 215. The depicted instance includes nine terminal devices 215 included in three local-area networks 235.

In some instances, a communication from network device 205 includes destination data (e.g., a destination IP address) that at least partly or entirely indicates which terminal device is to receive the communication. Network interaction system 200 can include one or more inter-network connection components 240 and/or one or more intra-network connection components 255 that can process the destination data and facilitate appropriate routing.

Each inter-network connection components 245 can be connected to a plurality of networks 235 and can have multiple network cards installed (e.g., each card connected to a different network). For example, an inter-network connection component 245 can be connected to a wide-area network 270 and one or more local-area networks 235. In the depicted instance, in order for a communication to be transmitted from network device 205 to any of the terminal devices, in the depicted system, the communication must be handled by multiple inter-network connection components 245.

When an inter-network connection component 245 receives a communication (or a set of packets corresponding to the communication), inter-network connection component 245 can determine at least part of a route to pass the communication to a network associated with a destination. The route can be determined using, for example, a routing table (e.g., stored at the router), which can include one or more routes that are pre-defined, generated based on an incoming message (e.g., from another router or from another device) or learned.

Examples of inter-network connection components 245 include a router 260 and a gateway 265. An inter-network connection component 245 (e.g., gateway 265) may be configured to convert between network systems or protocols. For example, gateway 265 may facilitate communication between Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and Internetwork Packet Exchange/Sequenced Packet Exchange (IPX/SPX) devices.

Upon receiving a communication at a local-area network 235, further routing may still need to be performed. Such intra-network routing can be performed via an intra-network connection component 255, such as a switch 280 or hub 285. Each intra-network connection component 255 can be connected to (e.g., wirelessly or wired, such as via an Ethernet cable) multiple terminal devices 215. Hub 285 can be configured to repeat all received communications to each device to which it is connected. Each terminal device can then evaluate each communication to determine whether the terminal device is the destination device or whether the communication is to be ignored. Switch 280 can be configured to selectively direct communications to only the destination terminal device.

In some instances, a local-area network 235 can be divided into multiple segments, each of which can be associated with independent firewalls, security rules and network protocols. An intra-network connection component 255 can be provided in each of one, more or all segments to facilitate intra-segment routing. A bridge 280 can be configured to route communications across segments 275.

To appropriately route communications across or within networks, various components analyze destination data in the communications. For example, such data can indicate which network a communication is to be routed to, which device within a network a communication is to be routed to or which communications a terminal device is to process (as opposed to ignore). However, in some instances, it is not immediately apparent which terminal device (or even which network) is to participate in a communication from a network device.

To illustrate, a set of terminal devices may be configured so as to provide similar types of responsive communications. Thus, it may be expected that a query in a communication from a network device may be responded to in similar manners regardless to which network device the communication is routed. While this assumption may be true at a high level, various details relating to terminal devices can give rise to particular routings being advantageous as compared to others. For example, terminal devices in the set may differ from each other with respect to (for example) which communication channels are supported, location and/or network proximity to a network device and/or characteristics of associated agents (e.g., availability, etc.). Accordingly, select routings may facilitate faster responses that more accurately and/or completely respond to a network-device communication. A complication is that static routings mapping network devices to terminal devices may fail to consider variations in communication topics, channel types, agent availability, and so on.

FIGS. 3A-3C show block diagrams of other embodiments of a network interaction system 300 a-c that includes a connection management system. Each of the depicted systems 300 a-c show only 2 local-area networks 235 for simplicity, though it can be appreciated that embodiments can be extended to expand the number of local-area networks. Each of systems 300 a-c include a connection management system 350, which can identify which terminal device is to communicate with network device 205, can establish and manage (e.g., maintain or close) connection channels, can determine whether and when to re-route communications in an communication session, and so on. Thus, connection management system 350 can be configured to dynamically, and in real-time, evaluate communications, agent availability, capabilities of terminal devices or agents, and so on, to influence routing determinations.

In FIG. 3A, connection management system 350 is associated with each of network device 205 and a remote server 340 (e.g., connection management system 350 a is associated with network device 205 and connection management system 350 b is associated with remote server 340). For example, connection management system 350 a and/or connection management system 350 b can be installed or stored as an application on each of network device 205 and remote server 340, respectively. Execution of the application(s) can facilitate, for example, a communication between network device 205 and remote server 340 to identify a terminal device 215 selected to participate in a communication session with network device 205. The identification can be made based on one or more factors disclosed herein (e.g., availability, connections between a communication's topic/level of detail with agents' or terminal devices' resource sets, estimated latency, channel-type availability, and so on).

A client device 330 can provide client data indicating how routing determinations are to be made. For example, such data can include: indications as to how particular characteristics are to be weighted or constraints or inclinations (e.g., relating to load balancing or estimated response latency). Client data can also include specifications related to when communication channels are to be established (or closed) or when communications are to be re-routed to a different network device. Client data can be used to define various client-specific rules, such as rules for communication routing; channel establishment, management or closing; communication re-routing; communication type-identification, and so on.

Connection management system 350 b executing on remote server 340 can monitor various metrics relating to terminal devices (e.g., relating to a client), such as which communication channels are supported, location and/or network proximity to a network device, communication latency and/or stability with the terminal device, a type of the terminal device, a capability of the terminal device, whether the terminal device (or agent) has communicated with a network device (or user) before and/or characteristics of associated agents (e.g., languages spoken, availability, etc.). Accordingly, communication management system 350 b may be enabled to select routings to facilitate faster responses that more accurately and/or completely respond to a network-device communication based on the metrics.

In the example depicted in FIG. 3A, a communication session between network device 205 and remote server 340 can facilitate early identification of a destination address. Network device 205 may then use the destination address to direct subsequent communications. For example, network device 205 may send an initial communication to remote server 340 (e.g., via one or more inter-network connections and a wide-area network), and remote server 340 may identify one or more corresponding clients. Remote server 340 may then identify a set of terminal devices associated with the one or more corresponding clients and obtain metrics for those terminal devices. The metrics can be evaluated (e.g., by remote server 340) so as to select a terminal device to involve in a communication session, and data relating to the terminal device (e.g., an IP address) can be sent to network device 205. In some embodiments, remote server 340 may continuously or periodically obtain and evaluate metrics for various terminal devices and store evaluation results in a data store. In such embodiments, upon identifying a set of terminal devices associated with the one or more corresponding clients, remote server 340 can access the stored evaluation results from the data store and select a terminal device to involve in the communication session based on the stored evaluation results.

In FIG. 3B, connection management system 350 can be configured to serve as a relay and/or destination address. Thus, for example, a set of network devices 205 may transmit communications, each identifying connection management system 350 as a destination. Connection management system 350 can receive each communication and can concurrently monitor a set of terminal devices (e.g., so as to generate metrics for each terminal device). Based on the monitoring and a rule, connection management system 350 can identify a terminal device 215 to which it may relay each communication. Depending on the embodiment, terminal device communications may similarly be directed to a consistent destination (e.g., of connection management system 350) for further relaying, or terminal devices may begin communicating directly with corresponding network devices. These embodiments can facilitate efficient routing and thorough communication monitoring.

The embodiment depicted in FIG. 3C is similar to that in FIG. 3B. However, in some embodiments, connection management system 350 is directly connected to intra-network components (e.g., terminal devices, intra-network connections, or other).

It will be appreciated that many variations of FIGS. 3A-3C are contemplated. For example, connection management system 350 may be associated with a connection component (e.g., inter-network connection component 245 or intra-network connection component 255) such that an application corresponding to connection management system 350 (or part thereof) is installed on the component. The application may, for example, perform independently or by communicating with one or more similar or related applications (e.g., executing on one or more other components, network devices or remotes servers).

FIG. 4 shows a representation of a protocol-stack mapping 400 of connection components' operation. More specifically, FIG. 4 identifies a layer of operation in an Open Systems Interaction (OSI) model that corresponds to various connection components.

The OSI model can include multiple logical layers 402-414. The layers are arranged in an ordered stack, such that layers 402-412 each serve a higher level and layers 404-414 is each served by a lower layer. The OSI model includes a physical layer 402. Physical layer 402 can define parameters physical communication (e.g., electrical, optical, or electromagnetic). Physical layer 402 also defines connection management protocols, such as protocols to establish and close connections. Physical layer 402 can further define a flow-control protocol and a transmission mode.

A link layer 404 can manage node-to-node communications. Link layer 404 can detect and correct errors (e.g., transmission errors in the physical layer 402) and manage access permissions. Link layer 404 can include a media access control (MAC) layer and logical link control (LLC) layer.

A network layer 406 can coordinate transferring data (e.g., of variable length) across nodes in a same network (e.g., as datagrams). Network layer 406 can transform a logical network address to a physical machine address.

A transport layer 408 can manage transmission and receipt quality. Transport layer 408 can provide a protocol for transferring data, such as a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). Transport layer 408 can perform segmentation/desegmentation of data packets for transmission and can detect transmission errors occurring in layers 402-406. A session layer 410 can initiate, maintain and terminate connections between local and remote applications. Sessions may be used as part of remote-procedure interactions. A presentation layer 412 can encrypt, decrypt and format data based on data types known to be accepted by an application or network layer.

An application layer 414 can interact with software applications that control or manage communications. Via such applications, application layer 414 can (for example) identify destinations, local resource states or availability and/or communication content or formatting. Various layers 402-414 can perform other functions as available and applicable.

Intra-network connection components 422, 424 are shown to operate in physical layer 402 and link layer 404. More specifically, a hub can operate in the physical layer, such that operations can be controlled with respect to receipts and transmissions of communications. Because hubs lack the ability to address communications or filter data, they possess little to no capability to operate in higher levels. Switches, meanwhile, can operate in link layer 404, as they are capable of filtering communication frames based on addresses (e.g., MAC addresses).

Meanwhile, inter-network connection components 426, 428 are shown to operate on higher levels (e.g., layers 406-414). For example, routers can filter communication data packets based on addresses (e.g., IP addresses). Routers can forward packets to particular ports based on the address, so as to direct the packets to an appropriate network. Gateways can operate at the network layer and above, perform similar filtering and directing and further translation of data (e.g., across protocols or architectures).

A connection management system 450 can interact with and/or operate on, in various embodiments, one, more, all or any of the various layers. For example, connection management system 450 can interact with a hub so as to dynamically adjust which terminal devices the hub communicates. As another example, connection management system 450 can communicate with a bridge, switch, router or gateway so as to influence which terminal device the component selects as a destination (e.g., MAC, logical or physical) address. By way of further examples, a connection management system 450 can monitor, control, or direct segmentation of data packets on transport layer 408, session duration on session layer 410, and/or encryption and/or compression on presentation layer 412. In some embodiments, connection management system 450 can interact with various layers by exchanging communications with (e.g., sending commands to) equipment operating on a particular layer (e.g., a switch operating on link layer 404), by routing or modifying existing communications (e.g., between a network device and a terminal device) in a particular manner, and/or by generating new communications containing particular data (e.g., new destination addresses) based on the existing communication. Thus, connection management system 450 can influence communication routing and channel establishment (or maintenance or termination) via interaction with a wide range of devices and/or via influencing operating at a wide range of protocol-stack layers.

FIG. 5 represents a multi-device communication interaction system 500 according to an embodiment. System 500 includes a network device 505 configured to communicate with a various terminal devices over various types of communication channels.

In the depicted instance, network device 505 can transmit a communication over a cellular network (e.g., via a base station 510). The communication can be routed to an operative network 515. Operative network 515 can include a connection management system 520 that receives the communication and identifies which terminal device is to respond to the communication. Such determination can depend on identifying a client to which that communication pertains (e.g., based on a content analysis or user input indicative of the client) and determining one or more metrics for each of one or more terminal devices associated with the client. For example, in FIG. 5, each cluster of terminal devices 530 a-c can correspond to a different client. The terminal devices may be locationally co-located or disperse. The metrics may be determined based on stored or learned data and/or real-time monitoring (e.g., based on availability).

Connection management system 520 can communicate with various terminal devices via one or more routers 525 or other inter-network or intra-network connection components. Connection management system 520 may obtain, analyze and/or store data from or relating to communications, terminal-device operations, client rules, and/or user-associated actions (e.g., interaction activity on a network site, etc.) at one or more data stores. Such data may influence communication routing.

Notably, various other devices can further be used to influence communication routing and/or processing. For example, in the depicted instance, connection management system 520 also is connected to a network server 540. Thus, connection management system 540 can retrieve data of interest, such as technical object details and additional data, and so on.

Network device 505 may also be connected to a network server (e.g., including a streaming network server 545). In some instances, communication with such a server provided an initial option to initiate a communication session with connection management system 520. For example, network device 505 may detect that, while visiting a particular network site, a communication engagement option is available and such an option can be presented.

One or more elements of communication system 500 can also be connected to a social-networking server 550. Social networking server 550 can aggregate data received from various user devices. Thus, for example, connection management system 520 may be able to estimate a general (or user-specific) polarity towards a particular topic or estimate a general action of a user or type of users.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a connection management system 600. A message receiver interface 605 can receive a message. In some instances, the message can be received, for example, as part of a communication transmitted by a source device (e.g., housed separately from connection management system 600 or within a same housing), such as a network device or terminal device. In some instances, the communication can be part of a series of communications or a communicate session, which can include a series of messages or message being routed between two devices (e.g., a network device and terminal device). This message or communication session may be part of and/or may define an interaction between the devices. A communication channel or operative channel can include one or more protocols (e.g., routing protocols, task-assigning protocols and/or addressing protocols) used to facilitate routing and a communication session between the devices.

In some instances, the message can include a message generated based on inputs received at a local or remote user interface. For example, the message can include a message that was generated based on button or key presses or recorded speech signals. In one instance, the message includes an automatically generated message, such as one generated upon detecting that a network device is presenting a particular app page or network interface or has provided a particular input command (e.g., key sequence). The message can include an instruction or request, such as one to initiate a communication session.

In some instances, the message can include or be associated with an identifier of a client. For example, the message can explicitly identify the client (or a device associated with the client); the message can include or be associated with a network interface or app page associated with the client; the message can include or be associated with a destination address associated with a client; or the message can include or be associated with an identification of an object associated with the client. To illustrate, a network device may be presenting an app page of a particular client, which may provide an option to transmit a communication to an agent. Upon receiving user input corresponding to a message, a communication may be generated to include the message and an identifier of the particular client.

A processing unit 610 may process a received communication and/or message. Processing can include, for example, extracting one or more particular data elements (e.g., a message, a client identifier, a network-device identifier, a user or user protocol identifier, and so on). Processing can include transforming a formatting or communication type (e.g., to be compatible with a particular device type, operating system, communication-channel type, protocol and/or network).

A message determination unit 615 may determine the message. The determination can include identifying, for example, one or more types or tags for the message. Examples of type or tag types can include (for example) topic, message polarity, complexity, and urgency. A difference between determining a type of message and tagging a message can be that types can be limited (e.g., according to a predefined set of type options), while tags can be open. A topic can include, for example, an object, a technical issue, a use question, a complaint, or other suitable topic. A type or tag can be determined, for example, based on a semantic analysis of a message (e.g., by identifying keywords, sentence structures, repeated words, punctuation characters and/or non-article words); user input (e.g., having selected one or more types); and/or message-associated statistics (e.g., typing speed and/or response latency).

In some instances, message determination unit 615 can determine a metric for a message. A metric can include, for example, a number of characters, words, capital letters, all-capital words or instances of particular characters or punctuation marks (e.g., exclamation points, question marks and/or periods). A metric can include a ratio, such as a fraction of sentences that end with an exclamation point (or question mark), a fraction of words that are all capitalized, and so on.

Message determination unit 615 can store a message, message metric and/or message statistic in a message data store 620. Each message can also be stored in association with other data (e.g., metadata), such as data identifying a corresponding source device, destination device, network device, terminal device, client, one or more types, one or more stages and/or message-associated statistics). Various components of connection management system 600 (e.g., message determination unit 615 and/or an interaction management unit 625) can query message data store 620 to retrieve query-responsive messages, message metrics and/or message statistics.

An interaction management unit 625 can determine to which device a communication is to be routed and how the receiving and transmitting devices are to communicate. Each of these determinations can depend, for example, on whether a particular network device (or any network device associated with a particular user) has previously communicated with a terminal device in a set of terminal devices (e.g., any terminal device associated with connection management system 600 or any terminal device associated with one or more particular clients).

In some instances, when a network device (or other network device associated with a sane user or user protocol (e.g., profile)) has previously communicated with a terminal device (e.g., about matters relating to a client), communication routing can be generally inclined towards the same terminal device. Other factors that may influence routing can include, for example, an inferred or identified user or agent polarity relating to the previous communication; a topic of a present communication (e.g., and an extent to which that relates to a topic of a previous communication and/or a resource set associated with one or more terminal devices or agents); whether the terminal device (or corresponding agent) is available; and/or an estimated response latency of the terminal device. Such factors may be considered absolutely or relative to similar metrics corresponding to other terminal devices. A re-routing rule (e.g., a client-specific or general rule) can indicate how such factors are to be evaluated and weighted to determine whether to forego agent consistency.

When a network device (or other network device associated with a same user or user protocol) has not previously communicated with a terminal device (e.g., about matters relating to a client), a terminal-device selection can be performed based on factors such as, for example, an extent to which various agents' resource set corresponds to a communication topic, availability of various agents at a time and/or over a channel type, types and/or capabilities of terminal devices (e.g., associated with the client), a language similarity between a user and agents. In one instance, a rule can identify how to determine a sub-parameter to one or more factors such as these and a weight to assign to each parameter. By combining (e.g., summing) weighted sub-parameters, a parameter for each agent can be determined. A terminal device selection can then be made by comparing terminal devices' parameters (e.g., to select a high or highest value).

With regard to determining how devices are to communicate, interaction management unit 625 can (for example) determine whether a terminal device is to respond to a communication via (for example) email, chat, SMS message, voice call, video chat, etc. A communication type can be selected based on, for example, a communication-type priority list (e.g., at least partly defined by a client or user); a type of a communication previously received from the network device, a complexity of a received message, capabilities of the network device, and/or an availability of one or more terminal devices. Appreciably, some communication types will result in real-time communication (e.g., where fast message response is expected), while others can result in asynchronous communication (e.g., where delays (e.g., of several minutes or hours) between messages are acceptable).

Further, interaction management unit 625 can determine whether a continuous channel between two devices should be established, used or terminated. A continuous channel can be structured so as to facilitate routing of communications from a network device to a specified terminal device. This inclination can persist even across message series (e.g., days, weeks or months). In some instances, a representation of a continuous channel (e.g., identifying an agent) can be included in a presentation to be presented on a network device. In this manner, a user can understand that communications are to be consistently routed.

In one instance, a parameter (e.g., a score or value, etc.) can be generated using one or more factors described herein and a rule (e.g., that includes a weight for each of the one or more factors) to determine a connection parameter corresponding to a network device and terminal device. The parameter may relate to an overall similarity or one specific to a communication or communication series. Thus, for example, the parameter may reflect a degree to which a terminal device is estimated to be suited to respond to a network-device communication. In some instances, analysis of the parameter can identify a terminal device to route a communication to and whether to establish, use or terminate a connection channel. When an analysis is used to both address a routing decision and a channel decision, a parameter relevant to each decision may be determined in a same, similar or different manner.

Thus, for example, it will be appreciated that different factors may be considered depending on whether the parameter is to estimate a strength of a long-term similarity compared to one to respond to a particular message query. For example, in the former instance, considerations of overall schedules and time zones may be important, while in the latter instance, immediate availability may be more highly weighted. A parameter can be determined for a single network-device/terminal-device combination, or multiple parameters can be determined, each characterizing a similarity between a network device and a different terminal device.

To illustrate, a set of three terminal devices associated with a client may be evaluated for determining candidate terminal devices for communication routing. A parameter may be generated for each that relates to a similarity for the particular communication. Each of the first two terminal devices may have previously communicated with a network device having transmitted the communication. An input from the network device may have indicated satisfaction with an interaction with the communication(s) with the first device. Thus, a past-interact sub-parameter (as calculated according to a rule) for the first, second and third devices may be 10, 5, and 0, respectively. (Negative satisfaction inputs may result in negative sub-parameters.) It may be determined that only the third terminal device is immediately available. It may be estimated that the second terminal device will be available for responding within 15 minutes, but that the first terminal device will not be available for responding until the next day. Thus, a fast-response sub-parameter for the first, second and third devices may be 1, 3 and 10. Finally, it may be estimated a degree to which an agent (associated with the terminal device) can communicate regarding a topic. It may be determined that an agent associated with the third terminal device can communicate with a network device at a higher level than those associated with the other two devices, resulting in sub-parameters of 3, 4 and 9. In this example, the rule does not include weighting or normalization parameters (though, in other instances, a rule may), resulting in parameters of 14, 11 and 19. Thus, the rule may indicate that the message is to be routed to a device with the highest parameter, that being the third terminal device. If routing to a particular terminal device is unsuccessful, the message can be routed to a device with the next-highest parameter, and so on.

A parameter may be compared to one or more absolute or relative thresholds. For example, parameters for a set of terminal devices can be compared to each other to identify a high parameter to select a terminal device to which a communication can be routed. As another example, a parameter (e.g., a high parameter) can be compared to one or more absolute thresholds to determine whether to establish a continuous channel with a terminal device. An overall threshold for establishing a continuous channel may (but need not) be higher than a threshold for consistently routing communications in a series of messages. This difference between the overall threshold and threshold for determining whether to consistently route communication may be because a strong similarity is important in the continuous-channel context considering the extended utility of the channel. In some embodiments, an overall threshold for using a continuous channel may (but need not) be lower than a threshold for establishing a continuous channel and/or for consistently routing communications in a series of messages.

Interaction management unit 625 can interact with an user data unit 630 in various contexts. For example, user data unit 630 may look up an identifier of a network device or terminal device in a protocol data store 635 to identify a protocol corresponding to the device. Further, user data unit 630 can maintain data about previous communication sessions (e.g., times, involved other device(s), channel type, resolution stage, topic(s) and/or associated client identifier), connection channels (e.g., indicating—for each of one or more clients—whether any channels exist, a terminal device associated with each channel, an establishment time, a usage frequency, a time of last use, any channel constraints and/or supported types of communication), user or agent preferences or constraints (e.g., related to terminal-device selection, response latency, terminal-device consistency, agent resource set, and/or communication-type preference or constraint), and/or user or agent characteristics (e.g., age, language(s) spoken, location, interests, and so on).

Further, interaction management unit 625 can alert user data unit 630 of various connection-channel actions, such that protocol data store 635 can be updated to reflect the current channel data. For example, upon establishing a channel, interaction management unit 625 can notify user data unit 630 of the establishment and identify one or more of: a network device, a terminal device, a user protocol and a client. protocol unit 635 can (in some instances) subsequently notify a user of the channel's existence such that the user can be aware of the agent consistency being availed.

Interaction management unit 625 can further interact with a client mapping unit 640, which can map a communication to one or more clients (and/or associated brands). In some instances, a communication received from a network device itself includes an identifier corresponding to a client (e.g., an identifier of a client, object provided by a client, network site, or app page). The identifier can be included as part of a message (e.g., which client mapping unit 640 may detect) or included as other data in a message-inclusive communication. Client mapping unit 640 may then look up the identifier in a client data store 645 to retrieve additional data about the client and/or an identifier of the client.

In some instances, a message may not particularly correspond to any client. For example, a message may include a general query. Client mapping unit 640 may, for example, perform a semantic analysis on the message, identify one or more keywords and identify one or more clients associated with the keyword(s). In some instances, a single client is identified. In some instances, multiple clients are identified. An identification of each client may then be presented via a network device such that a user can select a client to communicate with (e.g., via an associated terminal device).

Client data store 645 can include identifications of one or more terminal devices (and/or agents) associated with the client. A terminal routing unit 650 can retrieve data relating to each of one, more or all such terminal devices (and/or agents) so as to influence routing determinations. For example, terminal routing unit 650 may maintain a terminal data store 655, which can store data such as terminal devices' device types, operating system, communication-type capabilities, installed applications accessories, location and/or identifiers (e.g., IP addresses). Data can also include agent data, such as position, resource sets (e.g., topics that the agent is knowledgeable about), identifier metrics, working hours, language(s) spoken and/or location data. Some data can be dynamically updated. For example, data indicating whether a terminal device is available may be dynamically updated based on (for example) a communication from a terminal device (e.g., identifying whether the device is asleep, being turned off/on, idle/active, or identifying whether input has been received within a time period); a communication routing (e.g., indicative of whether a terminal device is involved in or being assigned to be part of a communication session); or a communication from a network device or terminal device indicating that a communication session has ended or begun.

It will be appreciated that, in various contexts, being engaged in one or more communication sessions do not necessarily indicate that a terminal device is not available to engage in another communication session. Various factors, such as communication types (e.g., message, email, chat, phone), client-identified or user-identified target response times, and/or system loads (e.g., generally or with respect to a user) may influence how many communication sessions a terminal device may be involved in.

When interaction management unit 625 has identified a terminal device to involve in a communication session or connection channel, it can notify terminal routing unit 650, which may retrieve any pertinent data about the terminal device from terminal data store 655, such as a destination (e.g., IP) address, device type, protocol, etc. Processing unit 610 can then (in some instances) modify the message-inclusive communication or generate a new communication (including the message) so as to have a particular format, comply with a particular protocol, and so on. In some instances, a new or modified message may include additional data, such as user data corresponding to a network device, a message chronicle, and/or client data.

A message transmitter interface 660 can then transmit the communication to the terminal device. The transmission may include, for example, a wired or wireless transmission to a device housed in a separate housing. The terminal device can include a terminal device in a same or different network (e.g., local-area network) as connection management system 600. Accordingly, transmitting the communication to the terminal device can include transmitting the communication to an inter- or intra-network connection component.

FIG. 7 is a schematic system block diagram of the method of the present invention. The Web server 708 receives ‘log-activity’ (LA) packets over the Internet 704 from all subscribing entitles. An LA packet contains the client's identifier, a type of activity and its content, along with an arbitrary weight. System integration (SI) packaging 712 collects the LA packets into an XML file. The XML file is inserted to the relational database (DB).

SI is the process of creating a complex information system. This process may include designing or building a customized architecture or application (e.g. modification design), and integrating it with new or legacy hardware, packaged and custom software, and communications. The data warehouse 716 stores all activities in a relational database format that facilitates rapid access and retrieval by the Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) cube 720. OLAP cube 720 tracing engine facilitates rapid retrieval of multidimensional queries, providing insightful data regarding the network device's activities. The term “activity data,” or “activities” as used herein, refer to user interactions with the network location.

Ordering Process

The information needed for the ordering (e.g. ranking) process is gathered over a predetermined time period (e.g. a month).

Stage 1. The activity data is accumulated.

Stage 2. The client chooses an activity. Executing the activity generates input to be ordered. E.g., the activity may be any activity that characterizes an action executed by the client within the network location.

Acquisition Activity (A.A.) After this, the client selects the unit of measure that the client intends to use, such as dollars, seconds, etc. This is the only stage that is not operated automatically in the system. Rather, it is controlled by the client.

FIG. 8a is an exemplary screenshot of a preferred embodiment of a network location showing the “Manage Ordering Process” step in the Create New Process mode of the Ordering Process Wizard, constructed according to the principles of the present invention. There are 3 options 804 in the Manage Ordering Process step:

“Create new process from scratch”; 808 (this option is selected in this example)

“Create new process from” . . . a pull-down window lists various sub-options; and

“Edit existing process” . . . a pull-down window lists various sub-options.

FIG. 8b is an exemplary screenshot of a preferred embodiment of a network location interface showing the “Naming” step in the Create New Process mode of the Ordering Process Wizard, constructed according to the principles of the present invention. The Naming step enables entry of a process Name 812 and Description 816 in corresponding windows.

Discover Who are the Network Location's Best Reporters

FIG. 8c is an exemplary screenshot of one embodiment of a network location showing the “Change values” step 114 in Create New Process Mode of the Ordering Process Wizard, constructed according to the principles of the present invention. Ordering Process Wizard 100 has two modes 103:

Ordering Center Home; and

Create a New Process 820, which is shown in progress in Ordering Process Wizard 800.

Change values step 832 is the 3rd of three steps in creating a new process.

The present invention can create any number of “contribution ordering processes” using the User Interface (UI) of FIG. 8c . The original values for various criterion 840 can be replaced with updated values 844. Criteria 824 can be removed 828 or added 836 through the User Interface.

FIG. 8d is a screenshot of a preferred embodiment of a network location displaying the “Ordering Dashboard” on the Ordering Center HomePage, constructed according to the principles of the present invention. Generally, the processes that have been input are displayed by name 848 and date and time of the last update 852.

FIG. 9a is a screenshot of the Activity Correlation Model 900 a, constructed according to the principles of the present invention.

Stage 3. Correlation Matrix: At this stage, the system finds the correlation between the selected activity at stage 2 above and other activities in the system. In other words, the system finds graphical patterns identical to the conduct of a certain activity (for example, clicking on an advertisement) that was chosen. After the connection was found between the different graphs, a formalized ordering is created in the following manner. The connections are then organized between different activities in a table, according to the order of the correlation strength between them.

Every activity receives an “identifier,” which encompasses the correlation between the activity and the activity that needs to be improved, such as selecting a displayed object description or object assignment. In the above mentioned table, for example, if the activity that a client intends to increase is requesting an object, the action of accessing the system is an activity that would receive a high identifier at ordering the connection to requesting the object. In that case the “identifier” might be 97.

The correlation process can be processed with every activity in the system. For example, if the network device is a content generator based network location, the correlation process can measure the input volume attributable to a certain device or group of devices over a specified period. This is determined from the number of selections of a displayed object description in that article that was written by a certain writer that is assigned to a specific class in the network location. If the client is a network location of electronic devices, the volume of input by the device generator can be determined by applying the ordering process.

Activity Correlation Model 900 a, for example shows the correlation between Object Request 904 and Logins 908 to be 0.97, as indicated by reference block number 912.

Discover the Network Locations Top Contributing Content Elements

FIG. 9b is a screenshot illustrating the ordering of the “Top Engaging Tags,” constructed according to the principles of the present invention. What actually makes the network location tick? With the present invention a network location can dynamically identify device content. Tags are keywords that describe the content of a network location, bookmark, image, or user generated publication (e.g. blog) entry. Tags help network devices search for relevant content. Tag-enabled network location services include bookmarking locations, such as del.icio.us, image sharing locations, such as Flickr and user generated publication tracking locations such as Technorati. Tags provide a useful way of organizing, retrieving and discovering information. Tags can also be used as a verb, as in tagging a user generated publication entry or searching for articles tagged with “sports.” A tag cloud is a box containing a list of tags with the most frequently identified (e.g. popular) tags being displayed as darker and bigger than less frequently identified tags. Further techniques include those described, for example, in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/608,117, filed on Oct. 29, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by references in its entirety for all purposes.

A network location can determine the contribution of different tag contents using the contribution ordering (e.g. ranking) process (e.g. formula) created in conjunction with FIG. 1 above. Alternatively, the network location can determine specific criteria, such as what content element generated the most comments or the most network device selection of a displayed notification? Thus, in FIG. 9b , a tag cloud 900 b is shown for a typical network location. The tag ‘Web 2.0,” 928, is the largest. The tags “Bush” and “Iraq” have an intermediate font 924. The tag “fashion” has the least enlarged font 920.

Understand the exact contribution of your operations (e.g. campaign) or device attributors (e.g. referrers)

FIG. 10 is a screenshot illustrating the ordering of the “Top Contributing Attributors by Page Hits” 1000, constructed according to the principles of the present invention. With the present invention the system can identify an exact output from a given input from each operation or from specific device attributors. Thus, in FIG. 10 the selected criterion for connected network device 1004 is page hits 1008. The top attributors shown is google.com 1012 with 159. The vast majority are unknown 1016.

Discover the Network Devices that the Network Location is about to Lose Before the Network Devices are Lost

FIG. 11 is a screenshot illustrating Configure Warnings, constructed according to the principles of the present invention. Some network devices may connect to a network location with a declining frequency over time. The network location may identify network devices susceptible to a declining connection frequency and target those network devices with a specific publication to retain them. With the present invention one can define warnings on changes in network device connection conduct corresponding to defined event types 1104. If a network device previously connected to the network location at a particular frequency, then when the frequency suddenly declines a warning is issued to the network location. Thresholds for each event type can be adjusted by a user interface object. For example, a user interface object, (e.g. slider 1108) is shown with the default position 1112 corresponding to a zero threshold. The numerical value 1116, in a plus or minus value is also shown.

Identify the Network Location's Attractive Content

How the system determine what content to display via the home page of the network location or each section? How does the system identify content that will contribute the most? The present invention can determine the exact contribution of each content element in the network location, whether it's articles, images, or videos.

As every feature of the present invention is presented in two easy to use aspects of the 2-way application programmer interface (API), which enables network device interaction, the system can take this information and embed it back into the network location as an attractive content list.

No Two Network Devices are the Identical

The present invention enables giving network devices connected to a network location a unique display. A network location may display a first type of content for a first network device and a second type of content for a second network device. As the present invention traces at the network device, the system can determine the interests of each network device connected to the network location.

FIG. 11 is a screenshot illustrating the traces of the SAGE engine, constructed according to the principles of the present invention. The SAGE engine executes algorithms on all the system data over intervals of time. The algorithms identify three types of anomalies in the system's accumulated data. The data is processed in time intervals of traces as follows:

-   -   a. Increases/linear changes in the data after an interval of         time 2104. FIG. 5 shows a report for a particular 24 hour         interval 1208.     -   b. Specific peaks in the data: the algorithm executes various         cross-sections (recent interval data against data from a         previous interval) and determines data that exceeds the defined         threshold of the time interval being evaluated.     -   c. Exponential changes in data are detected during the interval         in comparison with similar previous intervals.

FIG. 13 is a screenshot illustrating a SAGE engine synopsis, generated according to the principles of the present invention. “Device Stories” 1304 based on specific anomalies in the network location's activity data are presented. A user interface of a specific anomaly 1308 is shown.

Specific details are given in the above description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it is understood that the embodiments can be practiced without these specific details. For example, circuits can be shown as block diagrams in order not to obscure the embodiments in unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques can be shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments.

Implementation of the techniques, blocks, steps and means described above can be done in various ways. For example, these techniques, blocks, steps and means can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For a hardware implementation, the processing units can be implemented within one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, other electronic units designed to perform the functions described above, and/or a combination thereof.

Also, it is noted that portions of the embodiments can be described as a process which is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a data flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart can describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations can be re-arranged. A process is terminated when its operations are completed, but could have additional steps not included in the figure. A process can correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process corresponds to a function, its termination corresponds to a return of the function to the calling function or the main function.

Furthermore, embodiments can be implemented by hardware, software, scripting languages, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, and/or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, firmware, middleware, scripting language, and/or microcode, the program code or code segments to perform the necessary tasks can be stored in a machine readable medium such as a storage medium. A code segment or machine-executable instruction can represent a procedure, a function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a script, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures, and/or program statements. A code segment can be coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, and/or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. can be passed, forwarded, or transmitted via any suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, ticket passing, network transmission, etc.

For a firmware and/or software implementation, the methodologies can be implemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described herein. Any machine-readable medium tangibly embodying instructions can be used in implementing the methodologies described herein. For example, software codes can be stored in a memory. Memory can be implemented within the processor or external to the processor. As used herein the term “memory” refers to any type of long term, short term, volatile, nonvolatile, or other storage medium and is not to be limited to any particular type of memory or number of memories, or type of media upon which memory is stored.

Moreover, as disclosed herein, the term “storage medium”, “storage” or “memory” can represent one or more memories for storing data, including read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic RAM, core memory, magnetic disk storage mediums, optical storage mediums, flash memory devices and/or other machine readable mediums for storing information. The term “machine-readable medium” includes, but is not limited to portable or fixed storage devices, optical storage devices, wireless channels, and/or various other storage mediums capable of storing that contain or carry instruction(s) and/or data.

While the principles of the disclosure have been described above in connection with specific apparatuses and methods, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as limitation on the scope of the disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving one or more communications routed between a network device and one or more terminal devices, the one or more communications being received at a connection management system; storing the one or more communications in memory of the connection management system; analyzing the one or more communications to define a routing rule based on a condition and a target terminal device of the one or more terminal devices; receiving a new communication from the network device; identifying that a characteristics of the new communication meets the condition of the routing rule; and routing the new communication to the target terminal device in accordance with the routing rule.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the one or more communications comprises determining a quality level associated with communications between the network device and a respective one of the terminal devices.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein defining the routing rule is further based on one or more characteristics of a client associated with the network device.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the one or more communications comprises: generating one or more statistics regarding the one or more communications, wherein the condition of the routing rule is based on the generated statistics.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein routing the new communication to the target terminal device comprises: identifying a communication channel between the network device and the target terminal device, wherein the new communication is routed to the target terminal device via the identified communication channel.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying that a characteristics of the new communication meets the condition of the routing rule comprises identifying a prioritization associated with the new communication.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying that a characteristics of the new communication meets the condition of the routing rule comprises identifying a weight associated with the characteristic.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: applying the identified weight to a variable, wherein routing the new communication is further based on the weighted variable.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying that a characteristics of the new communication meets the condition of the routing rule comprises identifying a constraint associated with the network device.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: monitoring one or more metrics of the one or more terminal devices; and identifying the target terminal device based on the monitored metrics.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: updating the one or more metrics based on a current status of the one or more terminal devices, wherein routing the new communication is further based on the updated metrics.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising: monitoring historical activity of the one or more terminal devices; and identifying the target terminal device based on the historical activity.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein routing the new communication to the target terminal device comprises: generating a modified communication based on the new communication; and routing the modified communication to the target terminal device.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein routing the new communication to the target terminal device comprises: establishing a new communication channel between the network device and the target terminal device.
 15. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting data regarding the new communication to the target terminal device.
 16. The method of claim 1, further comprising: terminating routing of a subsequent communication to the target terminal device.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein terminating routing of the subsequent communication is based on detecting a re-routing condition, and further comprising: re-routing the subsequent communication to a new target terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices.
 18. The method of claim 1, further comprising: updating the routing rule based on the new communication.
 19. A system comprising: a communication interface that receives one or more communications routed between a network device and one or more terminal devices; memory that stores the one or more communications; one or more processors that execute instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by the processors: analyze the one or more communication to define a routing rule based on a condition and a target terminal device of the one or more terminal devices; identify that a characteristics of a new communication from the network device meets the condition of the routing rule; and route the new communication to the target terminal device in accordance with the routing rule.
 20. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium, having embodied thereon a program executable by a processor to perform a method comprising: routing one or more communications between a network device and one or more terminal devices, the one or more communications being routed to a connection management system; storing the one or more communications in memory of the connection management system; analyzing the one or more communication to define a routing rule based on a condition and a target terminal device of the one or more terminal devices; receiving a new communication from the network device; identifying that a characteristics of the new communication meets the condition of the routing rule; and routing the new communication to the target terminal device in accordance with the routing rule.
 21. The system of claim 19, wherein the processors analyze the one or more communications by determining a quality level associated with communications between the network device and a respective one of the terminal devices.
 22. The system of claim 19, wherein the processors define the routing rule further based on one or more characteristics of a client associated with the network device.
 23. The system of claim 19, wherein the processors analyze the one or more communications by: generating one or more statistics regarding the one or more communications, wherein the condition of the routing rule is based on the generated statistics.
 24. The system of claim 19, wherein the processors route the new communication to the target terminal device by: identifying a communication channel between the network device and the target terminal device, wherein the new communication is routed to the target terminal device via the identified communication channel.
 25. The system of claim 19, wherein the processors identify that a characteristics of the new communication meets the condition of the routing rule by identifying a prioritization associated with the new communication.
 26. The system of claim 19, wherein the processors identify that a characteristics of the new communication meets the condition of the routing rule by identifying a weight associated with the characteristic.
 27. The system of claim 26, wherein the processors execute further instructions to: apply the identified weight to a variable, wherein the processors route the new communication further based on the weighted variable.
 28. The system of claim 19, wherein the processors identify that a characteristics of the new communication meets the condition of the routing rule by identifying a constraint associated with the network device.
 29. The system of claim 19, wherein the processors execute further instructions to: monitor one or more metrics of the one or more terminal devices; and identify the target terminal device based on the monitored metrics.
 30. The system of claim 29, wherein the processors execute further instructions to: update the one or more metrics based on a current status of the one or more terminal devices, wherein the processors route the new communication further based on the updated metrics.
 31. The system of claim 19, wherein the processors execute further instructions to: monitor historical activity of the one or more terminal devices; and identify the target terminal device based on the historical activity.
 32. The system of claim 19, wherein the processors route the new communication to the target terminal device by: generating a modified communication based on the new communication; and routing the modified communication to the target terminal device.
 33. The system of claim 19, wherein the processors route the new communication to the target terminal device by: establishing a new communication channel between the network device and the target terminal device.
 34. The system of claim 19, wherein the communication interface further: transmits data regarding the new communication to the target terminal device.
 35. The system of claim 19, wherein the processors execute further instructions to: terminate routing of a subsequent communication to the target terminal device.
 36. The system of claim 35, wherein the processors terminate routing of the subsequent communication based on detecting a re-routing condition, and wherein the processors execute further instructions to: re-route the subsequent communication to a new target terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices.
 37. The system of claim 19, wherein the processors execute further instructions to: update the routing rule based on the new communication.
 38. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein analyzing the one or more communications comprises determining a quality level associated with communications between the network device and a respective one of the terminal devices.
 39. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein defining the routing rule is further based on one or more characteristics of a client associated with the network device.
 40. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein analyzing the one or more communications comprises: generating one or more statistics regarding the one or more communications, wherein the condition of the routing rule is based on the generated statistics.
 41. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein routing the new communication to the target terminal device comprises: identifying a communication channel between the network device and the target terminal device, wherein the new communication is routed to the target terminal device via the identified communication channel.
 42. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein identifying that a characteristics of the new communication meets the condition of the routing rule comprises identifying a prioritization associated with the new communication.
 43. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein identifying that a characteristics of the new communication meets the condition of the routing rule comprises identifying a weight associated with the characteristic.
 44. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 43 further comprising instructions executable to: apply the identified weight to a variable, wherein routing the new communication is further based on the weighted variable.
 45. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein identifying that a characteristics of the new communication meets the condition of the routing rule comprises identifying a constraint associated with the network device.
 46. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, further comprising instructions executable to: monitor one or more metrics of the one or more terminal devices; and identify the target terminal device based on the monitored metrics.
 47. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 46, further comprising instructions executable to: update the one or more metrics based on a current status of the one or more terminal devices, wherein routing the new communication is further based on the updated metrics.
 48. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, further comprising instructions executable to: monitor historical activity of the one or more terminal devices; and identify the target terminal device based on the historical activity.
 49. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein routing the new communication to the target terminal device comprises: generating a modified communication based on the new communication; and routing the modified communication to the target terminal device.
 50. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein routing the new communication to the target terminal device comprises: establishing a new communication channel between the network device and the target terminal device.
 51. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, further comprising instructions executable to: transmit data regarding the new communication to the target terminal device.
 52. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, further comprising instructions executable to: terminate routing of a subsequent communication to the target terminal device.
 53. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein terminating routing of the subsequent communication is based on detecting a re-routing condition, and further comprising instructions executable to: re-route the subsequent communication to a new target terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices.
 54. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, further comprising instructions executable to: update the routing rule based on the new communication. 